Salem's Lot (1979)

A novelist (David Soul) returns to the hometown of his youth in Maine, a town called Salem's Lot. But when a series of mysterious disappearances and deaths begin occurring, it doesn't take long before the writer ties it into the Marsden House on the hill and its new tenant (James Mason). Based on the novel by Stephen King (though there are changes from the book) and directed by Tobe Hooper, who died this week. Originally done for television with a 3 hour running time which allowed for a more detailed and leisurely storytelling. Perhaps too leisurely as it could use some tightening up in a few places. On the plus side since it was made for network TV, there were some restraints on the violence which forced Hooper to rely less on the gore factor and more on atmosphere. Overall, it's a highly effective piece of horror with some genuinely terrifying moments and scenes. Unfortunately, David Soul is pretty much a cipher as an actor which renders the film's leading character uninteresting. But James Mason by his very presence alone makes up for Soul's banality. The rest of the cast is variable from very good (Ed Flanders) to poor (Geoffrey Lewis). Also with Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Marie Windsor, Fred Willard, Lance Kerwin, George Dzundza, Barbara Babcock, Kenneth McMillan and Elisha Cook Jr.